Qurie GmbH has developed a heat pump that replaces traditional vapor-compression cycles with solid-state materials, potentially reaching over 70% theoretical efficiency and cutting energy use by up to 30%. Its patented heat-pipe-based design enables fast evaporation-condensation heat transfer without complex mechanics, achieving up to 20 Hz operation and aiming for compact, efficient cooling in sub-10 kW applications.
Freiburg-based start-up Qurie GmbH, a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, is developing a solid-state heat pump that operates without conventional compressors or refrigerants.
Unlike today’s vapor-compression systems, which rely on refrigerant cycles and mechanical compressors, Qurie’s technology uses the temperature change of electrocaloric materials under an applied electric field to drive a thermal cycle. According to the company, this approach could achieve significantly higher theoretical efficiencies of over 70%, compared to around 50% for conventional heat pumps, potentially reducing electrical energy demand by up to 30%.
A key innovation of the system is a patented heat management concept based on active electrocaloric heat pipes. These systems enable rapid latent heat transfer via evaporation and condensation of a working fluid such as ethanol or water, allowing higher operating frequencies and improved thermal transport without complex mechanical components.
